Alvin City Manager Terry Lucas said since Merkel will not leave his position until the end of the calendar year the city will have the time to conduct an adequate hiring process with the expectation of having someone on board around the time Merkel resigns.

Merkel has been with the police department 35 years, 21 of them as police chief. He has received numerous professional awards and recognitions for his service in state law enforcement as well as nonprofit organizations. The "Mike Merkel Leadership Award," initiated by the state of Texas and first going to Attorney General Greg Abbot in 2007, is among his honors.

Lucas said, "I do not anticipate needing to identify an interim chief of police. As I have done for other department director hiring processes, I will establish an outside board and will most likely hire a facilitator to conduct the process."

He said he is working through the details and does not expect the search to begin in earnest until sometime late October or early November.

"Regarding candidates, anyone is welcome to apply, either from inside or outside the department," Lucas said.

"We will allow the process to determine the top candidates and this is who I will recommend to the city council," Lucas said.